Flash light mechanism



March '27, 1934.

J. l.. LE GORRE 1,953,039

FLASHLIGHT MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1932 3 Sheets- Sheet $1 I A' S11/vento@ Jean. Ze @0r/;

3512' flu-M@ March 27, 1934. J, l.. LE GORRE 1,953,019

FLSHLIGHT MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1932 s sheets-sheet 2 :Inl/vento@ v 2511 QW @,Smg/fm 6MM,

March 27, 1934. J, LE GORRE 1,953,019

FLASHLIGHT MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1952 3 SheetSSheet 3 K v I,

A 5m ma gw tean agar/6,

Patented Nia-r. 27,1934

safran FLASH LIGHT MECHANISM Jean L. Le Gorre, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Welsbach Traffic Signal Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a ccrporation of Delaware Application .iuiy 28, 1932, Serial No. 625,557

3 Claims.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an emcient, reliable and comparatively inexpensive iiashlight which can be easily and ccnveniently adjusted in the field to change the number of flashes of light per unit of timeand to change the relative duration of the periods of light and darkness at each flash, and which, in case of accident, will show continuous light.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

Generally stated the invention comprises a cam carrier driven at constant speed of revolution per unit of time and having alternating high and low cam parts arranged in circular rows concentric with the axis of revolution of the carrier and spaced apart at substantially equal linear distances in each row, a cam follower adapted to make and break a lamp circuit and adjustable across the face of the carrier for cooperation with the high and low cam parts of any one of the circular rows to provide different numbers of lamp fiashes per unit of time, and means for adjusting the relative duration vof the periods of the makes and breaks in respect to each other to provide for different relative lengths of periods of light and darkness in the flashes.

The invention also comprises the improvements to be presently described and finally claimed.

In the following description reference will be made to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which Figure 1 is an elevational View of flashlight mechanism embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating a modification.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fis. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.Y

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrative of the wiring indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, 1 is a cam carrier, Vand it is driven at constant speed of revolution per unit of time. This is accomplished in the device selected for illustration by means of the electric motor 2 driving a worm 3 meshing with teeth on the periphery of the cam carrier 1. The motor 2 runs at substantially constant speed, and it may be a synchronous motor or a telechron (Cl. 20G- 32) motor. Upon the cam carrier are alternating high parts 4 and low parts 5, and these are arranged in circular rows concentric with the axis of revolution 6 of the carrier, and the high and low parts are spaced apart at substantially equal linear distances in each row. 7 is a cam follower and it is adapted to make and break a Vlamp circuit, and vit is adjustable across the face of the carrier for cooperation with high and low cam parts of any one of the circular `rows to provide different numbers of lamp flashes per unit of time or for each revolution of the cam carrier. As shown the cam follower 7 is arranged for adjustment endwise along `an oscillatable shaft 8. The shaft and the `opening through which it passes are shown as squared. 9 is fa set screw for use in making this adjustment. The shaft 8 is turnably mounted in supports 10 and 11, and it is provided with an arm 12, Fig. 6, acted upon by `a spring 13, connected to thepost or support 11 and adapted to hold the follower '7 up to the cam parts; The shaft 8 is provided with a c rank arm 14 which rocks back and forth as the shaft 8 oscillates. A carrier 15 is connected with the crank arm 14 by a screw 16 arranged in a slot 17 in the carrier. The carriery 15 carries a mercury contactor tube 18 in such a way that the tube can be turned end for end. 'As shown spring clips 19 are employed for this purpose. The contacts 20 of the tube 18 are connected in the lamp circuit 21. Power is introduced at 22 and 23. The

lamp, not shown, is connected in the circuit 21 so as to be flashed by interruption of current therein. The motor 2 is always in circuit by way of the leads 24. and 25. The duration of contact of the mercury with the contacts 20 for each oscillation of the shaft 8 can be increased or diminished by appropriately setting the carrier 15 and mercury contact tube 18. By detaching the mercury tube from the carrier and turning the mercury tube end for end the relative duration of light and darkness in the flashes can be reversed. If the spring 13 should break or become ineffective, the weight of the mercury in the tube will turn it into position for keeping the lamp circuit closed.

The mode of operation may be described as follows:

In the use of flashlight mechanism, perhaps more particularly in trafc service and in order to meet the wishes of traffic engineers, it is desirable to be able to adjust in the eld and with facility not only the number of flashes per unit of time but also the relative duration of light and darkness in each ash. To adjust the number of iiashes per unit of time all that is required is to move the cam follower 7 across the face of the cam carrier 1 from one circular series or row of high and low cam parts to another row of 5 high and low cam parts. To adjust the relative durationof the periods `of light and darknessl in each as'h: the angularity of thecarrierul is adfjustable in respect t'o the rocker arm 14, and, if desired, the mercury tube 18 can be turned end for end. ,Y The construction and mode of operation of the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are as above described except asvfollows: I

The alternating cam parts 26 and?? are respectively of conducting and inslatingmaterial, and the parts of conducting material are included in the circuit through the cam carrier. The cam follower 28 is in the circuit and it, in riding on conducting and insulating cam p'arts, makes and breaks the lampcirCuit, i. On an arm 29 of a bracket 3D is arranged for sliding move inentr'a `carriage "31*,adjustable on thearm p29 by ns of 'a 'set'rew ,'3'2.`v `The 'cam follower 28 and i'ts'sprirg 'SSar'efcarried bythe carriage. To adjust dii'ratin `f`tl'i`e make respect to the break in 'the lamp circuit there is provided a stop 3,4 arr'a'ri'ged i'n fthe path ci ,thecam follower and carried by onefar'n o'f a bell crank lever 35 cari ried by 'the brackeafand the 'other arm 36 of 'the beni drank lever afforcsmeans kfor positining thefstop 132i.Uv The fstfop prevents the cam Vfollower 28 fro'm fr' 'ing n a contact 26 for the full length ojf thezfa'oe 'oi 'thedcontact andin that way the duratin 'of the A(':or'itact can be adjusted, The diagramjr the `circuits,i Fig. 9, shows that -the pdw'er,corrieri in jat )37. and 38, that lthe motor f1 is permanently connected circuit by 39 and 40, thatl'tlie lamp 'circuit ijsbyutl'ie 'camA carrier, the contacts `36,aiidgcan-tf ,uiViver '28, and the 'leads 4(6- 2'11 `a`dl42 back tothe AD'Qwer 'l,in`e l:-,'7x.4 The lead 4I, having reference to Fig. 3, includes the 'parts 29'a'.ridjeg.l Y

,lit wiiib'e lie.

is not limited to such matters or otherwise thari the prior art and the appended claims may require.

I claim:

l. Flashlight mechanism comprising in combination a cam carrier driven at constant speed of revolution per unit of time and having alternatii'g high 'and low carri parts arranged in circular rows concentric with the axis of revolution of the carrier and spaced apart at substantially equal linear distances in each row, a cam follower adapted to make and break a lamp circuit and adjustable acrossithe face of the carrier for cooperation with the high and low cam parts of anyone ofc the circular rows to provide different numbers o'f lamp ii'ashes per unit of time, and means for adjusting the relative duration of the periods of the makes and breaks in respect to eachother to provide for diierent relative lengths ofreripdsgflighi@n.dsdarknesin the ashes:

`Elfaslfiliefi@.1.1.1.1r.hffnnisrn @mriiil ih 'Clbif nation a .fiamarrieraving alternati@ high and low parte arranged .11,1 Circular 'IO'WS riiricwvthibe asis 0i A`1fev. 2111.tifg1 Of the Cffii and spaced apart. at .S1119`Siax1`@ally` @glial Iiiealr aistances in each reame@ ,fQfievQli/hgfthe am carrier at substantially uniform speed of revolution. ajram. ffelloweradilistabl afrQS'S the face of the carrier, a spring retracted rock shaft achtuatedbrthe ai11-f91l 2wg1aldprovid@ with. a crank arm@ Carrier adjustable in @Spedi 't0 the crank army and a mercury contactor tube carried by the. Crank c. .Y

k3i. Flashlight mechanism comprising in corribf nationa cam carrier-having alternating high Vand low cam parts arranged in circular rows co'ncenn tric with` the agiis of revolution ofthe carrier land spaced 'apart at .substantially equal 'linear distances in each Arow, means f or revolving thecam carrier at substantially juniform speed of revolution, acam follower adjustable across 4the lface of the carrier for selective cooperation 'with on'e of'said rowsof'cam parts,`a springfretractedrock shaft 'actuatedby the Icam follower, and a circuit maker and breaker actuated bythe'ockfshaft. L. LE 'GoRRa fio 

